As a Child Sees

Pages: 244

Kalu,the protagonist of Ashim Choudhurys The Sergeants Son,is a keen observer,and as he becomes the voice of the first few chapters,you get a childs perspective of a military camp in Kalina,Bombay. We learn that Kalus family has made this difficult shift to a thriving metropolis from eastern India,that he is as close to his mother as he is distant from his father and that his interests lie in art,much to the disdain of his father,who wants him to join the Air Force. Choudhurys recreation of this little boys world is filled with amazement and charm.

The Sergeants Son revolves around this six-member family,Sergeant Samar Biswas,his wife Basanti and their four children,Kalu being the third. The narrative is peppered with endearing anecdotes,and one in particular stands out for containing the winning ingredient of the book glimpses into a childs mind. During their stay in Bombay,the Biswas children are introduced to their uncle from Assam and his German wife. They are excited about meeting a white lady and their feverish wonder to see her draped in a sari is palpable. When the father dismisses their excited whispers by calling her a daughter of an ordinary worker in Germany,you can sense their disappointment.

As the story progresses,Kalus familiar world disappears in his struggle. His family moves to Allahabad,which is a stark contrast to Bombay. The only constant is Kalus timid aspiration to become an artist. Basanti constantly tries to save him from his fathers wrath,which arises from his own thwarted ambitions. This is a familiar set-up and we yearn to see Kalus own perspective and understanding. Here,the narrative is lost in a web of its own making as it tries to tie up ends introduced earlier.

Much of the story is probably autobiographical,as Choudhury himself reluctantly joined the Air Force in the 1970s. It is during his training in Bangalore that the idea for the book came along. The last few chapters in The Sergeants Son take a tumultuous turn,leaving room for a sequel. If it can retain the sensitivity and simplicity of the original,Choudhurys future work will be something to look forward to.